Float-valve for steam-boilers



E. M. McMlLLAN.

. FLOAT VALVE FOR STEAM BOILERS.

APPLICATION FILED 1 58.27, 1918.

Patented Oct. 5, 1920.

o v o 0 Z6 Z5 2 O o WWI mm 0 UNITED STATES EPHRAIM M. MCMILLAN, OF TAFT, CALIFORNIA.

FLOAT-VALVE FOR STEA'M IBOITJERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 5, 1920.

Application filed February 27, 1918. Serial No. 219,431.

2 0 all 107mm it may concern:

Be it known that I, EXHRAIM M. MoMIL- LAN, citizen of the United States, residing at Taft, in the county of Kern and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Float-Valves for SteamBoilers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will en'- able others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in float valves for steam boilers whereby the supply of steam which actuates the pump which forces the water into the boiler may be controlled automatically by the operation of the said float.

A further object of this invention is to provide a float in communication with the water supply and steam supply whereby the pressure may be equalized on both sides of the float to automatically open and close the communication between the steam supply and pump and automatically operate this 13111111310 force water into the boiler, and automatically close the said pump when the water line in the boiler is reached.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a float valve of this character, which will be simple, practical and comparatively inexpensive in construction and one that can be manufactured and sold at a low cost.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described and set forth in the claim hereto appended.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the float valve showing the same in use.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view illustrating more clearly the construc tion of the interior of the valve casing and valve.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawing.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 5 indicates a boiler having connected thereto and communicating therewith a supply pipe 6. The supply pipe 6 is connected to a suitable pump 7 which pump is in communica? tion with a water supply tank 8 through the medium of a pipe 9. When the pump 7 is actuated water is forced from the supply tank 8 through the pipe 9 and pump 7 and through the pipe 6 into the boiler 5 until it reaches a predetermined water level therein designated A in Fig. 1. A steam supply pipe 10 has one end connected to the boiler as at 11 above the water line and its opposite end is connected to and communicates with the pump 7 as at 12.

A vertical branch pipe 13 has one end connected to and communicating with the steam supply pipe 10 and has secured to its upper end a steam gage 141. A horizontal branch pipe 15 extends from said pipe 13 and has its free terminal extended downwardly and is in open communication with the reduced end or sleeve 17 of a valve casing 18. The reduced portion or sleeve 17 of the valve casing is in open communication with the steam supply pipe 10 which extends therethrough and also in communication with this pipe through the medium of the branch pipes 13, 15 and 16 respectively.

The casing 18 has secured to its bottom wall a pipe 19 connecting the casing with the water space of the boiler. A sliding float 20 is located within the casing 18. The float 20 has secured to its upper side a vertical hollow tube 21 and this tube 21 is adapted to close the communication between the steam supply pipe 10 and the reduced portion 17 of the casing. The tube 21 is also provided with a plurality of rel atively spaced openings 22 at diametrically opposite points and at right angles to the ends of the portions of the steam supply pipe 10. It will be apparent that when the pump is actuated that the float is at the lower portion of the casing 18, the water is then forced into the boiler 5 until it reaches a predetermined level, which when seeking its level will raise the float and the tube 21 upwardly closing the communication of the steam supply and automatically stopping the pump and steam will then pass up through the branch pipe 13 through the branch pipe 15 and down into the upper end of the reduced portion 17 of the casing and out through the perforations in the tube 21 and thus the pressure on the float will be equalized. The apertures 22 in the hollow tube 21 render the float 20 subject to the boiler pressure at all times,

The casing 18 is provided with a suitable steam and water gage 23 which gage 1S controlled with a suitable turn valve 24. The

' casing is also provided with a plurality of automatic. 7 drops to a predetermined level the float outlet cocks 25 controlled by suitable valves 26.

V In use.

' It will be understood that the device is hen the water in the boiler will drop to the bottom of the casinglS,

thus permitting the steam in the upper portionot the boiler to pass through the pipe 10 down into the pump 7 and actuate said pump and the pump then forces the Water from the supply tankS into the boiler 5.

The water rising to a certain level in this boiler forces the float 20 upwardly and moves the tube 21 into such a position that the supply of steam through the pipe 10 is cut; oil, thus directing the steam up through the branch pipes 13, 15 and 16, respectively, into the upper end of the reduced portion 17 of the casing 18 andit 'then passes downwardly through the tube 21 and out through the openings 22 upon the float, equalizing. the pressure. It will be apparent that the instant the water starts to fall the float will drop toward the bottom of the casing, opening the communication These cocks provide means whereby' the-casmgmay-be dra1ned.

and to the boiler, a by-pass steam pipe connected to the end of the neck and to the steam pipe, a second steam pipe connected to the other port a steam actuated pump connected to the second named steam pipe and having communication with a water source and with the boiler, a float in said chamber, and a tube formed on the float and in engagement with the wall of the neck and adapted to stop the flow of steam between said steam pipes when said float is in its uppermost position, said tube having openings to permit steam from the by-pass pipe to enter the chamber above the float.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

Q ,EPHRAIM M; McMILLAN.

V WVitnesses: V 4

GEORGE T. lVHITE,

E. W. CRAGI-IILL. 

